Pennisetum plant named &#39;tift-17&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new variety  Pennisetum  ‘Tift-17’ is provided. The new and distinct variety has excellent drought tolerance; superior  Helminthosporium  leaf spot resistance; high ornamental value; higher tiller number in drought conditions; cold tolerance for short periods of time; and relatively long trichomes on the sheath and at the leaf blade edge at the collar. The asexually reproduced variety is reliably propagated vegetatively.

‘Tift-17’ is a tri-specific ornamental Pennisetum hybrid of the genusand species Pennisetum purpureum [Pennisetum glaucum x (Pennisetumpurpureum x Pennisetum squamulatum)].

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new Pennisetum claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Tift-17’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPennisetum botanically known as Pennisetum purpureum [Pennisetum glaucumx (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum squamulatum)], and herein referredto as ‘Tift-17’.

The new Pennisetum is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventors in Tifton, Ga. The objective of the Pennisetum breedingprogram is to create new plant cultivars with improved commercialqualities. This cultivar is commercially important for its superiorornamental value. The baseline ornamental value increases during droughtstress. These and other qualities are enumerated herein.

Pedigree and history: In 2003, red tetraploid (2n=4x=28) pearl millet(unpatented Pennisetum glaucum, designated ‘04-94’) was crossed with SC1125-2 [a Merkeron napiergrass (unpatented P. purpureum; 2n=4x=28) thathad been crossed with PS 262 (unpatented P. squamulatum, 2n=8x=56)]. Onevigorous plant from the SC 1125-2/PS 262 cross, designated ‘04-26-1’,was selected in 2004. In 2004, ‘Princess’ napiergrass (patented: U.S.PP.17728; 2n=4x=28, female parent) was pollinated with unpatented‘04-26-1’ (male parent). The new variety ‘Tift-17’ was the seventeenthplant selected in 2005 from the 2004 cross. The new variety ‘Tift-17’has been tested since 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety Pennisetum ‘Tift-17’ byvegetative propagation (single stem propagules) in a controlledenvironment in Tifton, Blairsville and Griffin, Ga. since 2005, hasshown that the unique features of this new Pennisetum are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety Pennisetum ‘Tift-17’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Tifton and GriffinGa., and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the newvariety ‘Tift-17’:

-   -   1. Excellent drought tolerance;    -   2. Superior Helminthosporium leaf spot resistance;    -   3. High ornamental value and maintains value under drought        conditions;    -   4. High tiller number in drought conditions;    -   5. Cold tolerant for short periods of time;    -   6. Relatively long trichomes on the sheath and at the leaf blade        edge at the collar.

The new variety Pennisetum ‘Tift-17’ can be compared to its parents,‘Princess’ and ‘04-26-1’, and other grasses developed by University ofGeorgia researchers, such as the patented (U.S. PP18509) Pennisetum‘Prince’ and co-pending plant patent application for ‘Tift-23’ (AttorneyDocket No. 0088564-009US0), filed on the same date as the instantapplication.

Comparison to female parent ‘Princess’. The new variety ‘Tift-17’ issimilar in height, plant base diameter, leaf width, and non-droughttiller number to its parent ‘Princess’. The new variety ‘Tift-17’ haslonger leaf length compared to ‘Princess’. Tiller number when grown indrought conditions is higher for the new variety ‘Tift-17’ than‘Princess, and the new variety ‘Tift-17’ produced a much more desirableplant type. The new variety ‘Tift-17’ rated a significantly higherornamental value than ‘Princess’ in all tests, including two of threetests for color. Field trials indicate that the new variety ‘Tift-17’has improved resistance to Helminthosporium leaf spot as compared to‘Princess’. Lastly, the new variety ‘Tift-17’ produced a significantlywider plant canopy than ‘Princess’.

Comparison to male parent ‘04-26-1’. The new variety ‘Tift-17’ issimilar in leaf length, leaf collar trichome length, disease resistance,and approximately the same in abaxial leaf color as parent ‘04-26-1’.The new variety ‘Tift-17’ is slightly different from parent ‘04-26-1’ inadaxial leaf color [the new variety ‘Tift-17’ is mottled Greyed-purpleRHS 187D whereas ‘04-26-1’ is mottled Grey-purple RHS 183B/138A]. Thenew variety ‘Tift-17’ has significantly longer trichomes on the leafblade edge at the collar, is shorter in height, and wider in leaf widththan parent ‘04-26-1’. The new variety ‘Tift-17’ has sheath trichomeswhereas ‘04-26-1’ does not have sheath trichomes. The new variety‘Tift-17’ is a perennial at Tifton, Ga. whereas ‘04-26-1’ is a weakperennial at Tifton, Ga. The new variety ‘Tift-17’ has no flowers inlate October in Tifton, Ga. whereas ‘04-26-1’ has flowers in lateOctober in Tifton, Ga. Lastly, the new variety ‘Tift-17’ has a differentmidrib color. The new variety ‘Tift-17’ is about Greyed-purple RHS 187B,and ‘04-26-1’ is about Red-purple RHS 61C.

Comparison to ‘Prince’. The new variety ‘Tift-17’ is significantlyshorter than ‘Prince’. Leaf length of the new variety ‘Tift-17’ issignificantly shorter than that of ‘Prince’. The new variety ‘Tift-17’rated a significantly higher ornamental value than ‘Prince’ in alltests, including two of three tests for color. Field trials indicatethat the new variety ‘Tift-17’ has improved resistance toHelminthosporium leaf spot as compared to ‘Prince’.

Comparison to ‘Tift-23’. The new variety ‘Tift-17’ is approximately 60%taller, has longer and wider leaves, has unmottled leaves, has longertrichomes on the leaf blade edge at the collar, with those trichomesplaced further away from the collar, and has sheath trichomes whereas‘Tift-23’ does not. The new variety ‘Tift-17’ is otherwise similar to‘Tift-23’ in that it has similar abaxial leaf color, midrib color, hasno trichomes on either leaf surface, is cold tolerant and diseaseresistant, and does not flower in late October.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens infull colour of the foliage and fruit of the new variety Pennisetum‘Tift-17’. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in acolor representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety Pennisetum ‘Tift-17’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published bythe Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Tifton, Blairsville, or Griffin, Ga. During the growing of theplants, day temperatures ranges from approximately 50° F. toapproximately 99° F. and night temperatures ranges from approximately20° F. to approximately 70° F.

The new variety ‘Tift-17’ is a perennial at Tifton, Ga. (U.S.D.A. zone8a). The new variety ‘Tift-17’ survived at approximately 20° F. for onenight in the field during the 2007/2008 winter at Tifton, but did notsurvive the 2006/2007 winters at Griffin or Blairsville, nor the2007/2008 winter at Blairsville. Because of its vigor, it caneffectively be used as an annual where it will not survive freezingtemperatures in the winter.

The new variety ‘Tift-17’ is pollen and seed sterile and does notproduce seed heads at Tifton, Ga. in the field.

All data are from plants established as single stem propagules inmid-May, and rated in September through October. Plants were spaced at 2meter centers. Color indicators are according to the Royal HorticulturalSociety (RHS) Colour Chart, 5^(th) Edition.

Other data are as follows:

-   -   Mature plant height Approximately 72-140 cm.    -   Diameter of plant canopy Approximately 133-160 cm.    -   Diameter of base Approximately 22-48 cm.    -   Leaf width Approximately 30-33 mm.    -   Leaf length Approximately 61-83 mm.    -   Adaxial leaf surface trichomes None.    -   Abaxial leaf surface trichomes None.    -   Leaf blade margin trichome length <0.1 mm.    -   Leaf collar trichome length Approximately 3 mm.    -   Leaf blade edge at collar trichome Approximately 6 mm long for        about 6 mm from collar.    -   Sheath trichomes Approximately 2 mm long for about 2 cm from        collar.    -   Number of tillers Approximately 38-65, decreasing with drought.    -   Adaxial leaf color About Greyed-purple RHS 187D.    -   Abaxial leaf color About Greyed-purple RHS 187D.    -   Midrib color About Greyed-purple RHS 187D.    -   Inflorescence in late October None.

1. A new and distinct variety of the Pennisetum plant named ‘Tift-17’,substantially as illustrated and described herein.